The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-21
e road, and had no prospect but the little

ginia creeper torn by the wind tapped on
the porch; otherwise all was still. Mr.. Jeni-
fer looked round him for moment, and then
went through the silent house to the chief
sitting room. 1t was neither large nor high,
but it had that individual charm which only
age and years Of occupation can give. The
old-fashioned mantel reached, with its dark.
rich carvings, to the ceiling, across which
was massive, oaken beam, nearly black
with age; the fireplace with its glaring logs
gave ont a cheerful glimmer, reflected in the
small quarries of the window opposite,
over which hung caryen scroll. whose in
scription there was not light enough to read
Mr.. Jenifer breathed a sigh of relief at the
comfortable appearance here, in contrast to
the depressing aspect of the rest of the
house; but instead of settling himself las he
felt tempted to do) by the fire, he again went
out to look over the surrounding property.
Behind, the ground rose abruptly, and was
bounded by closely-growing coppice,
through which narrow path seemed to
strike in the direction of the village The
parson climbed the hill, leaving the coppice
on the left, and standing ON the highest por-
tion of the meadow, looked across the low
hedge at the last pageant of the sunset.
Some elm trees were sllhouetted against the
sky, athwart which lay bars of rosy flame,
tender and evanescent. One moment the
dying light leaped up brighter, and throbbed
through all the burning heaven, and then
suddenly 1t died away, and the day was
not.
Jenefer turned and looked at the hall. AL
ready it seemed to be losing itself in the
darkness which gathered round it, hiding in
the recesses of the gables, drawing curtains
of mist over the twisted chimneys. The ST.
lence, entire and absolute, struck almost
with oppression Con this man accustomed to
city noises; but even as he thought to him.
self "How still it is" there sounded in the
coppice close by long sobbing cry which
rose and fell, rose again, and then ceased.
Clement Jenifer was not particularly ten
der-hearted or compassionate man, but that
sudden cry filled him with vague fear of
some cruel deed just perpetrated-some aw-
full mystery to be brought to light; "and after
moments hesitation he turned in the direc-
ton whence it had seemed to come, and
found himself on long path, with thick
yew hedge on either side. Far ahead, in the
dim twilight, he could descry a figure walk
ing Slowly away from him; he could hear
moaning sound, as of some one in pain. ii Mr.,
Jenifer fastened his pace in order to come
up with the sufferer, and as he gained on
him, and could see him more distinctly, it
seemed to him that there was something ia
miliar in the gait and bearing of the I'M
known.
As he so thought, the figure turned, and
facing him, advanced with slow, uncertain
footsteps, wringing his hands as he came.
What was it that struck Mr.. Jenifer as so
well known to him? What was it that filled
him with sudden horror and sent the blood
back to his heart? All the tales of ghosts
and haunting noises at which he had scoffed
so lately required to his mind; and yet there
was nothing unearthly in the aspect of the
man who approached him. Now they stood
face to face, and Clement Jenifer saw that
this-h knew not what to call it-bore the
facewhich hehimself had.borne20 years ago,
and he knew, though thow he could not tell,
that he was standing face TO face with the
ghost of his own dead past.
Then ensued a conversation-stra I'M
natural-between these two, who still were
one; but whether the words were uttered on
the evening air, or whether the knowledge
of what was in the mind of each was mutual
to both it were hard to say.
"Why do haunt your" said this double
Of himself, gazing on him with reproachful
eyes. do not Murdered victims haunt their
slayers, and have you not murdered that
which was the best part of me? Where are
the aspirations, the desires after higher
life, the noble purposes with which my
soul was filled? Dead-dead and buried
beneath crust of selfishnessw
Youthful follies," answered Jenifer;
gone the way of all such early fancies. sWhy
do you prosecute me? Have | stolen, OF
murdered, or lived uncleanly? Have not
kept to my work and done it thoroughly, dis
tasteful as it tsp"
1T is true" said the other, ''the command
ments you have not broken: but where are
the hearts you have helped to bindnp? How
many have you helped by your example?
Rather, have you not by daily carelessness,
by dryness of spirit by perfunctory perform
ance of your duty, quenched the light that
was, aye, God knows it was, in me? And in
doing so you have wounded many another.
There are sinners who Stay the body, but
you have slain your own soul; and woe be
to him of whom this can be said"
Jenifef laughed in scorn.
when was what you are, all this would
have had its terrors for me; now am not to
be frightened with false fire. Iknow what
you are, who think to scare me thus-an illu-
ci0u of fbo -, Al.
vous system. Come daylight, and this will
be as If it had never been"
But the other with the sad youthful eyes
looked at him in sorrow aud said:
Even in your blindness you speak the
truth, for when you were as / am, ere the
world had dimmed your sight, you would
have seen the precipice on which you stand.
Oh, brother of me, though how degraded!
give up your dreams of selfish future turn
back while yet you may: use the wealth that
has come to you, not for yourself only, but
for others; redeem the time that is left to
you, and bring to happier second life the
promises, the aspirations OF your YOUTH:
"Begone!" said Jenifer. 'If not an illu-
sion, then you are an accomplice in some
conspiracy to betray ME in rash vow. Did
you and the old man who is in his grave plan
1t between you, and laugh to think how you
would scare your foolish dupe? Away
from me! and do not hope to work your
will. have inherited, and l will enjoy!"
NAY, them" said his double, "see to what
an end your enjoyment shall bring you. /,
whom you have destroyed, am what you
were; see now what you shall be-"
Then for one awful moment the parson
knew that not only he himself stood there,
with the spirit of his once pure and earnest
hearted youth beside him; but a third and
dreadful shape-himself as he should be, if
no hand of grace stayed his downward
course
The lightning flash of awakened percep-
tion showed him his own old age, where that
which he had called economy had grown to
avarice, where callousness had become cru
envy-carelessness, impie-
ty. He saw himself degraded, mean des-
picable, without affection, without tender
ness, without hope; and as the horror of it
swept over him with resistless force, Glenn
ent Jenifer-the icy crust of years of life for
self broken at last-fell upon his face with
the agonized cry of the apostle of old, "Who
shall deliver me from the body of this
death 9v